St. Andrew (Andreas) the Apostle

Feast on every November 30.

St. Andrew was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, a fisherman and when Andrew heard the great St. John the Baptist preach, he became his disciple. When Jesus came to be baptized, John pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God," (John 1:29, The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!) Andrew understood that Jesus was greater. At once he left John and followed Jesus. Jesus knew that Andrew was walking behind him and turning back, asked why he was being followed. Andrew said that he would like to know where Jesus lived. Jesus warmly invited him to, "Come and see." He brought his brother Peter (Simon) to Jesus, saying, "We have found the Messiah.". (John 1:41, The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah”). Other parts in the Holy Bible where Andrew is mentioned :

In John 6:8-9 when Jesus feeds the 5,000, Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

In John 12:20-22 when Jesus predicts his death, Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

 

After Jesus ascended into heaven, St. Andrew preached the Gospel in places now known as Greece and Turkey. There, he was put to death in Patras on a saltire cross (x shaped cross), to which not nailed. but tied to the cross.

Russia and Scotland have chosen St. Andrew as their patron. 


The Saint Andrew Christmas Novena prayer is a special “Christmas Novena” which is prayed every day from November 30th (Feast Day of St. Andrew) until Christmas.The prayer must be said 15 times a day. You can say the prayer all at once; or divide up through the day.

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Hail and blessed be the hour

and moment in which the Son of God

was born of the most pure Virgin Mary,

at midnight, in Bethlehem,

in piercing cold.

In that hour, vouchsafe,

O my God! to hear my prayer

and grant my desires

{state your intention(s) here},

through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ,

and of His Blessed Mother.

AMEN.

@  @  @  @  @  @

We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord, that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew was for your Church a preacher and pastor, so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

First Reading: Romans 10: 9 - 18

9	because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10	For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.
11	The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame."
12	For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him.
13	For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
14	But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?
15	And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!"
16	But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"
17	So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.
18	But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."

Psalm: Psalms 19: 8 - 11

8	the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9	the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10	More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11	Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Gospel: Matthew 4: 18 - 22

18	As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19	And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
20	Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21	And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, in the boat with Zeb'edee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
22	Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.